NOVEMBER saw new car registrations fall by 11.5 per cent figures by the SMMT reveal.
Registrations fell to 139,875 units, however the month performed ahead of expectations remaining 3.4 per cent up over the first 11 months at 1,907,029 units.
November was the fifth successive month to see registrations down.
Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive, said: ‘New car registrations fell by less than expected in November with demand from the fleet sector helping to offset the market rebalancing following the end of the Scrappage Incentive Scheme.
‘Registrations are expected to fall next month, but demand may benefit from motorists looking to avoid the January VAT rise. This factor, coupled with the strength of the first half of 2010, means year-end volumes are expected to lift to over 2.03 million units, 2 per cent up from last year. Next year will continue to be challenging as consumer spending tightens and government’s austerity measures take effect.’
Although it is not all bad news; the market was up 14.0 per cent compared with last November’s market less scrappage volumes, registrations of diesels were up by 53 per cent, and fleet volumes were up 10.7 per cent over the year to date.
The SMMT predict registrations to again fall in December, but earlier growth in the first half of the year should ensure a net gain of around 2 per cent to some 2.03 million units. Austerity measures are expected to affect 2011 registrations by 5 per cent – down to 1.93 million units.
Ford’s Fiesta was again the best selling car.
